Carl R. Stevenson wrote:
"Brian" wrote in message
om...

(N2EY) wrote in message

...

Morse code testing was implemented for a number of reasons, but limiting

the

number of hams wasn't one of them. And in 1968, when the requirements

for full

amateur privileges were increased in both the written and code tests,

the

number of hams began to grow again after at least 5 years of stagnation

at the

quarter-million mark.

A direct quote from the pages of QST was posted on here several years
back. It was during the Aaron Jones Morse Myths demything era. I
don't think Aaron posted it, though.


The Morse test speed for was increased to 13 wpm as a direct effort to
limit the number of hams - and the moving force was the ARRL - it's
documented in public records in the Library of Congress and was researched
by a certified archivist.

It may have been increased for that purpose, but it was not originally
implemented for that purpose.

"JJ" wrote in message
...
Carl R. Stevenson wrote:
"Brian" wrote in message
om...

(N2EY) wrote in message

...

Morse code testing was implemented for a number of reasons, but
limiting

the

number of hams wasn't one of them. And in 1968, when the requirements

for full

amateur privileges were increased in both the written and code tests,

the

number of hams began to grow again after at least 5 years of stagnation

at the

quarter-million mark.

A direct quote from the pages of QST was posted on here several years
back. It was during the Aaron Jones Morse Myths demything era. I
don't think Aaron posted it, though.


The Morse test speed for was increased to 13 wpm as a direct effort to
limit the number of hams - and the moving force was the ARRL - it's
documented in public records in the Library of Congress and was
researched
by a certified archivist.

It may have been increased for that purpose, but it was not originally
implemented for that purpose.

Fair statement.

The "original" morse requirement was to
enable non-amateur stations to dialog via morse with
amateur stations in case of interfereing operation.

The increase to 13wpm was, as the article states, intended
to raise the bar of entrance criteria to limit the number
of new hams.

Cheers,
Bill K2UNK

In article t, "Bill Sohl"
writes:

It may have been increased for that purpose, but it was not originally
implemented for that purpose.

Fair statement.

The "original" morse requirement was to
enable non-amateur stations to dialog via morse with
amateur stations in case of interfereing operation.

That was one reason. Here are some others:

- To permit amateur stations to dialog via morse with each other
- To set a minimum standard of operator qualification so that newcomers would
not try to learn the code on the air. (Remember that in the early days the
effective selectivity of radio systems was not very good)
- To support hte idea of the amateur service as a training ground for
commercial and military operators
- To support the use of the most spectrum-efficient mode then available

The increase to 13wpm was, as the article states, intended
to raise the bar of entrance criteria to limit the number
of new hams.

And so was the simultaneous upgrading of the written tests.

73 de Jim, N2EY

In article , JJ
writes:

It may have been increased for that purpose, but it was not originally
implemented for that purpose.

My point exactly.

73 de Jim, N2EY